Security for Narendra Modi stepped up

Gandhinagar, Dec 23: The Centre has alerted the Gujarat government of a threat to the life of Chief Minister Narendra Modi and asked the state authorities to enhance his security.

A state government official confirmed that an advisory has been received from the Centre about the possibility of a 'fidayeen' attack on Mr Modi. The official said while the level of security for Mr Modi was being maintained at the highest possible level, those areas where he planned to go later today, like Kalupur in Ahmedabad where the state BJP headquarter is located, had been sanitized as part of the beefed up security measures.

Mr Modi, who already enjoys Z-plus security, is regarded as among the most threatened political leaders in the country. While the Centre provides him security cover through the National Security Guard, the Gujarat government has its own state commando force, Chetaks, specially trained for this purpose.

Meanwhile, counting of votes polled in the assembly elections in the state has already started.